LAS VEGAS – Bidders from around the world bought up Michael Jackson memorabilia worth nearly $1 million at an auction on the anniversary of his death, including $190,000 for the Swarovski-crystal-studded glove he wore on his 1984 Victory Tour.
The bidding that began Friday on more than 200 items was "unlike anything we've ever experienced," said Darren Julien of Julien's Auctions, which ran the auction at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
Some items, like the glove, brought 10 times more than their estimated value, he said.
"It just shows you Michael Jackson is the most sought after and most collectible celebrity of all time. It was just phenomenal," Julien told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"People flew in from Asia, Russia, all over. Now that he's gone, we now realize the true legend we lost," said Julien, who has not had a similar auction in his 15 years in the business. He predicted the sales would easily top $1 million by the time the auction wrapped up Sunday.
The glove had been expected to sell for between $20,000 and $30,000. The $190,000 sale price included the buyer's premium of $30,000, a standard industry fee that goes to the auction house, Julien said.
The winning bidder was Wanda Kelley of Los Angeles, who also bought a number of Jackson's albums at the auction, the Las Vegas Sun reported. She said she was prepared to go higher if necessary.
"Let's just say I wasn't walking out of here without that glove," she said.
A pair of Jackson's stage-worn loafers that were listed as worth $2,000 to $3,000 went for $90,000.
The custom jacket that the pop singer was wearing during his interview with Barbara Walters was listed at $6,000 to $8,000. It sold for $120,000.
A white Fedora sold for $56,250. One of the last autographs Jackson signed, and dated June 24, 2009, in his handwriting, went for $21,000.
Non-Jackson items that sold at the auction included:
- A Jimi Hendrix Fender guitar for $180,000.
- Prince's "Purple Rain" handwritten lyrics, which sold for $66,000.
- An Elvis Presley shirt worn in 1956 on "The Milton Berle Show," which fetched $61,200.
credits :
http://www.apimages.com/
http://news.yahoo.com/
Pop star Michael Jackson died Thursday following a cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles, officials said. He was 50.
Paramedics were called to the singer's home around midday local time Thursday after he stopped breathing and suffered a suspected cardiac arrest.
He was rushed by ambulance to a local medical centre, but his death was announced shortly afterwards.
The star, who had a history of health problems, had been due to begin a series of comeback concerts in Britain July 13.
Concerns were raised last month when four of the concerts were postponed, but organisers insisted the dates had been moved due to the complexity of staging the show.
A spokeswoman for The Outside Organisation, which was organising the publicity for the shows, said she had no comment at this time.
Uri Gellar, a close friend of the star, told BBC News: "I'm devastated - it's very, very sad.
"I'm still trying to hold on to the glimmer that it's not true. It's too surreal for me to absorb that Michael is no longer with us."
DJ Paul Gambaccini added: "There's no doubt (his) records will be listened to for decades to come.
"There will be millions of people in the world who will have extreme emotional reactions."
US media reports said paramedics were called to the singer's house in Bel Air at midday.
They performed CPR on Jackson and rushed him to the UCLA medical centre.
Crowds have begun to gather outside the facility, whose emergency centre has been roped off by police.
Jackson began his career as a child in family group The Jackson 5.
He then went on to achieve global fame as a solo artist with smash hits such as "Billie Jean" and "Bad".
"Thriller", released in 1982, is the biggest-selling album of all time, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
But the singer had been dogged by controversy and money trouble in recent years, becoming a virtual recluse.
He was arrested in 2003 on charges of molesting a 14-year-old boy, but was found not guilty following a five-month trial.
The star has three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II.
He is survived by his mother, Katherine, father, Joseph and eight siblings - including Janet, Randy, Jermaine and La Toya Jackson.
The self-proclaimed mother of Michael Jackson's children is down, but not entirely out.
A Los Angeles judge Wednesday rejected Nona Paris Lola Jackson's latest bit to insert herself into the custody arrangement between Jackson and ex-wife Debbie Rowe.
But the judge did not dismiss the woman, giving her until Aug. 1 to get her legal act together, and letting her try again, per a local wire report.
Attorneys for Michael Jackson and Rowe did not return calls for comment. Michael Jackson's rep previously branded Nona Jackson's case "ludicrous."
The Jackson known as Nona is seeking...Well, she's seeking quite a bit, including Neverland Ranch, child support and shared custody of Michael Jackson's three children, Prince, 10, Paris, 9, and Prince II, better known as the balcony-dangled Blanket, 5.
Rowe, who was married to Michael Jackson from 1996-99, is regarded by the world, save Nona Jackson's corner of it, to be the birth mother of the two oldest children; the parentage of Blanket has never been precisely determined, or at least announced.
Nona Jackson, a "black Jew born in Britain," per her own court papers, launched her challenge last October. She claimed that she and Michael Jackson were a "sexually active couple," and that as a result of all that activity she had given birth to the singer's brood.
The woman's first bid to alter the Michael Jackson-Rowe custody deal was rejected last November, and for the same reason it was rejected Wednesday: Because she didn't follow the rules. Per the judge, Nona Jackson hasn't shown the court that she's properly notified Michael Jackson and Rowe of her filing. Also, there's the matter of her motherhood claim: She hasn't proved that, either.
Then as now, the London-based Nona Jackson attended the court hearing via speakerphone.
In court documents last month, Nona Jackson explained why she's had such trouble proceeding with her case.
Said the woman, in profound understatement: "I am not a qualified lawyer."
US pop star Michael Jackson has postponed an appearance at a Christmas party in Japan, where tickets cost up to 400,000 yen (£1,787).
Jackson was due to attend the party in Tokyo on Tuesday, although he was not planning to perform.
The event has been put back to 8 March, with a fan appreciation event being held the following day.
Last month Jackson carried out his first public engagement in London since being cleared of child molestation.
Special area
The event was marred by disappointment when Jackson sang just a few lines, when the audience had been led to believe he would perform a medley of his songs.
Organisers of the Tokyo event said Jackson wanted to postpone his appearance to add an extra date to his schedule.
Jackson's role at the party is to simply sit down to dinner with guests while listening to his recorded music. Gospel singers and dancers are expected to perform.
For those buying the top-priced tickets there is the chance to meet Jackson and have a photograph taken with him. Those paying 200,000 yen (£895) will get a signed portrait of the star.
Tickets for the fan appreciation day will cost 15,000 yen (£65), which allows people to watch dancers perform to Jackson songs, while the singer himself watches from a separate area.
